14 dead as bus falls into a ravine

Philippines – A bus veered off a mountain road in the northern Philippines and fell into a ravine on Friday, killing at least 14 people, including a Dutch and a Canadian passenger, officials said.

At least 32 other people injured in the crash were being treated in a hospital, said Jojo Valera, a regional civil defence official. Among them was a Dutchman who was believed to be travelling with the woman from the Netherlands who died. Two children and the bus driver were also among the injured.

The bus crashed into a ravine about 120 metres (394 feet) below the road in Bontoc, a resort town 280 kilometres (175 miles) north of Manila known for its mountainside rice terraces, said police Supt. Davy Limog.

The Office of Civil Defence’s regional bureau said the bus was coming from Manila and had about 47 passengers on board.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known. Police officials said the weather was fine at the time of the crash, and that investigators were looking into possible mechanical problems or human error.